Bob Schaffer
Bio | Bob Schaffer previously served as a U.S. House of Representative from Colorado. He studied Political Science with the University of Dayton and later received an honorary doctorate in Management from Colorado Technical University. |
Status and Position | Former US House of Representatives of Colorado |
Political Party and Jurisdiction | Republican, Colorado |
Elections | Election Jurisdiction | Started Campaign | Campaign Status | Poll Rankings (of the vote) |
| none |
Campaign Financing | In the entirety of his career, Schaffer raised $9,800,690 for campaining. A majority of these funds came from the real estate and oil and gas industries. (Source: https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/bob-schaffer/summary?cid=N00006182&cycle=CAREER) |
Voting Rights | Schaffer hast not taken a stance on voting rights. |
Opinions on Issues
Issues | Stance | Summary |
| Universal Healthcare | Nuance | Schaffer's has varying opinions on universal healthcare. In 2008, Schaffer told an interviewer that all Americans should have access to healthcare given the type of country America is. However, he also referred to government-sponsored universal healthcare as economic fascism. (Source: https://www.skyhinews.com/news/conversation-with-bob-schaffer-u-s-senate-candidate/ and https://www.denverpost.com/2008/10/09/centrism-in-senate-race-doesnt-faze-the-base/) |
| Socialized Healthcare | Against | In 2008, Schaffer told an interviewef that he didn't believe socialized medicine wasn't the solution to insuring that every American had access to healthcare. (Source: https://www.skyhinews.com/news/conversation-with-bob-schaffer-u-s-senate-candidate/) |
| Private Healthcare | For | In 2008, Schaffer told an interviewer that he supported healthcare that focused on freedom and consumer choice. In another interview, he stated that every Amwrican should have access to private health insurance (Source: https://www.skyhinews.com/news/conversation-with-bob-schaffer-u-s-senate-candidate/ and https://www.ijn.com/bob-schaffer-republican-candidate-us-senate/) |
| LGBT Rights | Against | Schaffer supported efforts to ban gay marriage. In the 2004 Colorado Senate race, Schaffer made it clear that he supported a constitutional ban on gay marriage. (Sources: https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna5138063 and https://chicago.gopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/2236225) |
| Taxes | Against | Schaffer supported efforts to limit taxes. Schaffer made it publicly known throughout his political career that he was against taxes. In 2008, he stated that he fought for tax relief during his time in Congress. This tax relief was to spur private investment. He explained that he would do so again if elected to the Senate. (Source: https://www.steamboatpilot.com/explore-steamboat/schaffer-touts-tax-relief/) |
| Flat Tax Rate | Unknown | Schaffer has not taken a stance on flat tax rates. Schaffer made it publicly known throughout his political career that he was against taxes. In 2008, he stated that he fought for tax relief during his time in Congress. This tax relief was to spur private investment. He explained that he would do so again if elected to the Senate. (Source: https://www.steamboatpilot.com/explore-steamboat/schaffer-touts-tax-relief/) |
| Abortion | Against | Schaffer has been clear about his opposition of abortion. During his political career, Schaffer spoke out against abortion with fervor. He was also one of three state senators to be against protester buffer zones surrounding abortion clinics. He has also co-sponsored a few bills against abortion and referred to abortion as murder. (Source: https://www.summitdaily.com/news/bob-schaffer-has-a-thirst-to-be-where-the-debate-is/ and https://www.congress.gov/member/robert-schaffer/S000112?q=%7B%22subject%22%3A%22Crime+and+Law+Enforcement%22%7D and https://www.denverpost.com/2008/10/09/centrism-in-senate-race-doesnt-faze-the-base/) |
| Gun Control | Against | Schaffer has co-sponsored several bills against gun control. Through his political career, Schaffer co-sponsored numerous bills against gun control. He co-sponsored H.R.4642 which aimed to repeal the law banning firearms in the District of Columbia. He co-sponsored the Second Amendment Rights Protection Act of 2001. Additionally, he co-sponsored the Second Amendment Rughts Protection Act of 2019. He also co-sponsored many more pro-gun bills. (Source: https://www.congress.gov/member/robert-schaffer/S000112?q=%7B%22subject%22%3A%22Crime+and+Law+Enforcement%22%7D) |
| Assisted Suicide | Against | Schaffer co-sponsored the Assissted Suicide Funding Restriction Act of 1997. (Source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/1003?r=2&s=1) Through his political career, Schaffer co-sponsored numerous bills against gun control. He co-sponsored H.R.4642 which aimed to repeal the law banning firearms in the District of Columbia. He co-sponsored the Second Amendment Rights Protection Act of 2001. Additionally, he co-sponsored the Second Amendment Rughts Protection Act of 2019. He also co-sponsored many more pro-gun bills. (Source: https://www.congress.gov/member/robert-schaffer/S000112?q=%7B%22subject%22%3A%22Crime+and+Law+Enforcement%22%7D) |
| Government Interference | Against | Schaffer has expressed his support for less government interference in certain areas, especially education. (Source:https://www.summitdaily.com/news/bob-schaffer-has-a-thirst-to-be-where-the-debate-is/) |
| Planned Parenthood | Unknown | Schaffer has not taken a stance on Planned Parenthood. |
| Welfare | Unknown | Schaffer has not taken a stance on welfare. Schaffer has not taken a stance on welfare. |
| Welfare | Against | Schaffer has stated that using federal funds for stem cell research is unlawful, unnecessary, and unacceptable, comparing it to Nazi medical experiments. (Source: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CRECB-1999-pt13/pdf/CRECB-1999-pt13-Pg18876.pdf and https://www.denverpost.com/2008/10/09/centrism-in-senate-race-doesnt-faze-the-base/) |
| Death Penalty | Against | Schaffer doesn't support the death penalty. In 2004, Archbishop Charles Chaput said that Catholic politicians needed to adovcate for laws that respected the sacredness of life. Schaffer is a Catholic politician that supported the Archbishop's sentiments. (Source: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/981/colorados-politicians-react-to-denver-archbishops-strong-words) |
| Mandatory Prison Sentence | For | Schaffer co-sponsored H.R.1130 and H.R.4258. These bills supported mandatory prison sentence. (https://www.congress.gov/member/robert-schaffer/S000112?q=%7B%22subject%22%3A%22Crime+and+Law+Enforcement%22%7D) |
| Military Spending | Nuance | Schaffer has expressed his support for military spending only if it is justiifed. (Source: https://www.chieftain.com/article/20080506/NEWS/305069919) |
| War on Terrorism | For | Schaffer wrote a piece for the Coloradoan in 2016 in which he explains why America needs to continue the war on terrorism to protect the counrty. (Source: https://www.coloradoan.com/story/opinion/2016/09/08/schaffer-sept-willful-act-war/89981514/) |
| Foreign Policy International Interaction | For | Schaffer has expressed his support for America interacting with other countries. When asked about terrorism in a 2008 interview, Schaffer stated that he believed America was far safer after interacting internationally. He explained that the United States needed to increase pressure on the Pakistani leaders to cooperate with America. He added that the United States needed to utilize its alliances to fight terrorism too. Additionally, he expressed his support for the US to play a stronger role (by ourselves or with other countries) on interdiction in the high seas. (Source: https://www.ijn.com/bob-schaffer-republican-candidate-us-senate/ ) |
| United Nations power | Nuance | Schaffer has expressed his rare satisfaction with using the UN as the primary way of projecting America's interests. However, he has also stated that the UN is occassionally a good tool. (Source: https://www.ijn.com/bob-schaffer-republican-candidate-us-senate/) |
| Nationalism | Unknown | Schaffer has not made a stance on nationalism. |
| Free Markets | For | Schaffer has shown support for free markets. in 2007, Patrick J. Toomey, a former House member, said that Schaffer was a constant supporter of free market principles. Schaffer also advocated for the healthcare dilemma to be solved using a free market solution. (Sources: https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/cq/2007/03/28/cq_2484.html?pagewanted=all and https://www.steamboatpilot.com/news/schaffer-coors-very-different/) |
| Brexit | Unknown | Schaffer has not taken a stance on Brexit. |
| Affirmative Action | Unknown | Schaffer has not taken a stance on affirmative action. |
| Government Spending | Against | Schaffer has voted to limit goverment spending and has been supported by the Club of Growth group that suppports cutting government spending. (Source: https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/cq/2007/03/28/cq_2484.html?pagewanted=all) |
| Charter Schools | For | In 2010, Schaffer was appointed principal of Liberty Common High School which is a charter school. (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Schaffer#Liberty_Common_High_School) |
| Common Core | Against | Schaffer expressed his disdain about Common Core in 2012. In 2012, Schaffer served as the State Board of Education chair in Colorado. In a meeting, he stated that if he could vote to disconnect from Common Core at that moment, he would. (Source: https://co.chalkbeat.org/2012/12/10/21102062/sbe-hears-common-core-debate) |
| Clean Energy | Nuance | Schaffer supports all kinds of energy. In 2008, Schafer told a group of people that he supported all kinds of energy. He supported clean energy like wind and sun. He also supported energy from oil drilling. (Source: https://www.summitdaily.com/news/senate-candidate-likes-all-kinds-of-energy/) |
| Religious Freedom | For | Schaffer has co-sponsored bills supporting religous freedom. Schaffer co-sponsored H.R. 1685 which was named the Freedom from Religious Persecution Act of 1997. He also co-sponsored H.R. 3319 which was named the Student Freedom of Religious Expression Act. |
| Separation of Church and State | Unknown | Schaffer has not taken a stance on separation of church and state. |
| Slavery Reparations | Unknown | Schaffer has not made a stance on slavery reparations. |
| Border Control | Nuance | Schaffer's opinions on border control are complicated. In a 2016 piece for the Coloradoan, Schaffer stated that since his mother is an immigrant, his opinons are swayed. He believes immigration is good but only when it is legal. Illegal immirgation shouldn't be tolerated. (Source: https://www.coloradoan.com/story/opinion/2016/12/08/schaffer-immigration-personal-perspective/95027932/) |
| Passenger Profiling | Unknown | Schaffer has not made a stnace on passenger profiling. |
| DACA | Unknown | Schaffer has not made a stance on DACA. |
| Sanctuary Cities | Against | In 2008, Schaffer spoke against sanctuary cities. (Source: https://americasvoice.org/research/report_republicans_fenced_in_by_immigration/) |
| Legalizing Marijuana | Unknown | Schaffer has not made a stance on legalizing marijuana. |